I’m a firm believer that artists may have talent but it’s only through hard work that artists get better. Just like athletes, writers and other artists can only get better by practice, practice, practice!

NaNoWriMo

To that end I have challenged myself over the years to practice my limited talents and skills with the help of online challenges. In 2015 I participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and completed 30 days dedicated to completing 50,000 words on a NEW novel. You can read about my exploits here.

Now that Ilene and I are full-time RVers one would think I’d have more time to dedicate to my artistic activities…and you’d be wrong. It seems like the more time I have, the more time I don’t seem to have. I still have a home to take care of, this one on wheels. We do a lot of sightseeing since we travel more. Oh, and I seem to ADD more hobbies as time goes on.

What started as being interested in watercolor painting last November has morphed into pen & ink drawing, urban sketching, plein air painting and drawing, blog posting on three sites, working as a voice talent, and building an RV inspection business. And yes, I saw City Slickers—but I can’t seem to do just ONE thing! Read the rest of this entry

keith

I’m officially retired after over 40 years of working with the US military in one way or another. My bride of 45 years and I settled into a nice home in Fredericksburg, Texas, USA, and are enjoying the many events, organizations, and attractions the Texas Hill Country has to offer. I enjoy urban sketching, watercolor painting, dabble in writing, and do an occasional voice acting gig.

Today marks the last day of National Novel Writer’s Month for 2015.

If you participated and completed your goal of writing a 50,000–word novel for National Novel Writer’s Month—congratulations, you’re a winner!

Why is being a NaNoWriMo winner important?

1. Winning NaNoWriMo gives you fodder for your bio. I remember reading another writer’s ‘about’ page and noticed, “Winner, National Novel Writer’s Month”. I have to admit, when I read that little tidbit I had no idea what that meant other than he’d won a national writing award. Needless to say, like any curious writer, I Googled NaNoWriMo and learned about the NaNoWriMo challenge.

The rest, as they say, is history. I decided to take the challenge; I wanted to be a winner. I wanted to show I was a WINNER on my bio! Read the rest of this entry

KeithShafer

Sunday, 15 November 2015

                      Are Writer’s Crazy?

I just tweaked my blog and now I’m rolling up my sleeves for another week of writing! I made it to 31,000 words today.

I read on one of the NaNoWriMo.org forums that our writers in Paris are all accounted for. Thank God! Even as a writer I find it hard to put into words the outrage I feel about the killings in Paris. What madness drives one human being to such fanaticism to kill innocent people?

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Paris attack victims, their families, their friends and the survivors. Today, like many around the world, I am a Parisian.

Monday, 16 November 2015

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KeithShafer

                   Eating the Elephant

Question: How do you eat and elephant?

Answer: One bite at a time!

It’s Week Two of National Novel Writer’s Month and my first NaNoWriMo novel. This is a daily update on my progress.

Week Two Day One NaNoWriMo:

It’s Sunday and today I made it to over 17,000 words on the novel. Also took a photo and posted my selfie on Twitter for NaNoWriMo selfie day.

A thought on word goals. I’ve been in the habit of writing a minimum of 500 words every day for about a year now. That’s a handy habit for NaNoWriMo. I’ve increased my daily requirement to 1800 words per day for NaNoWriMo to make the 50,000 word goal.

Despite working a forty-hour full time job I’m finding the bump to 1800 words has been fairly easy.

I’ve spent time with family and friends, finished a Brad Thor novel, written for NaNoWriMo and two blogs, and still reach my daily goal.

However, I don’t think if I’d have started out trying to write 1800 words a day reaching that goal would have been this easy. In fact, I can honestly say I KNOW it wouldn’t have worked. I tried the thousand word a day habit earlier in my writing career and it didn’t take. But a small bite, one day at a time did.

So if you’re struggling to make your daily word count, take smaller bites of the elephant and slowly, but surely, make the bites a bit bigger as you go along. Pretty soon that whole pachyderm will be nothing but bones on your plate. Read the rest of this entry

KeithShafer

NaNoWriMo Day 1:

Remembered to use Toggl to keep track of my actual writing time. Chunking the time up in Eugene Schwartz thirty-three minutes and thirty-three second bites.

Day 2:

I’ve got a headache, blah. May end up changing how the book starts, but that will come later with the editing after NaNoWriMo.

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KeithShafer

NaNoWriMo Day One

Yesterday was day one of National Novel Writer’s Month 2015. As I write this post, I’m working on an outline for the novel I plan to write for my first NaNoWriMo.

By the time you read this, I should have completed the first 1667 words for my new novel.

I’ve decided to take this time and write a first draft to the prequel to my novel Crossroad In Time;  due for publication at the end of the year.

This new novel will give the background of the main antagonist in Crossroad In Time. It will explain how he became the person he is and why he antagonizes my protagonist. Read the rest of this entry

KeithShafer

Did you know November is National Novel Writing Month?

This year writers from all walks of life will dedicate themselves to writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days.

NaNoWriMo.org

Sponsored by NaNoWriMo.org, National Novel Writing Month has been going on since 1999. This year I’m taking the plunge and participating in my first NaNoWriMo.

In preparation for NaNoWriMo, I’m taking several steps that I thought I’d share with you:

-Finish reading The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne

-Working step-by-step through NaNoWriMo.org’s preparation page (http://nanowrimo.org/nano-prep)

-Let my family know what I’m up to

-Get my social media on

-Touching base with local authors

-Jotting down some ideas

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KeithShafer